Blackwell Homecoming moving forward again with COVID restrictions

Blackwell Public Schools officials have announced COVID-19 safety restrictions will be in place for this year’s Homecoming celebration, set to take place Oct. 8-10.

In a statement issued Monday, officials said the alumni assembly taking place Oct. 8 in the Blackwell High School Auditorium again will be split into two. Graduating classes ending in a 6 will attend an assembly at 10 a.m., while classes ending in a 1 will meet at 1:30 p.m.

Also, no coffee will be served that morning in the high school.

“We are excited to welcome back our Alumni,” officials said in a Facebook post. “Due to the recent rise in COVID cases, we will again have to take precautions with our large gatherings to help mitigate the spread of this virus and keep everyone healthy.”

The Homecoming parade will take place Oct. 8 at 4 p.m., with the football game against Hennessy kicking off at 7 p.m. In 2020, Blackwell’s typically large Homecoming weekend was met with concern and hope for normalcy when Superintendent Shawn Haskins and the Blackwell Board of Education decided that the annual celebration would proceed.

Local hotels are open for reservations, including the SureStay by Best Western, Baymont by Wyndham, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Sleep Inn & Suites and the Super 8 Motel. During Homecoming weekend, the City of Blackwell will host a red dirt country music festival, the Top of OK Jamboree. It’s a free concert featuring acts such as Wade Bowen and 51 Junction. The event will take place at Morgan Field.